Covid-19: Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine shows strong results against Delta variant

By Sanjay Maurya

News Highlights

J&J said that their single-shot Covid-19 vaccine has long-lasting efficacy against the Delta variant.
J&J vaccine 85 percent effective against severe critical illness in the ensemble trial, and protection against hospitalization and death.
The Delta version has mutations that let it reproduce more quickly and elude the body’s immune system.

Covid-19: Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine shows strong results against Delta variant

On 1^st July, Johnson & Johnson said that their single-shot Covid-19 vaccine has significant, long-lasting efficacy against the Delta and other common strains.

The single-shot Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine induces a robust neutralizing antibody response that does not decrease over time, according to current data for the eight months tested so far, Mathai Mammen, head of research & development at J&J’s pharmaceuticals business, said in a statement.

According to the research, the single-dose vaccination evoked neutralizing antibody activity against the Delta variation that was even greater than what was recently seen in South Africa for the Beta (B.1.351) variant.

Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine was 85 percent effective against severe/critical illness in the ensemble trial, and it protected hospitalization and death. The vaccination was consistently efficacious in all locations tested throughout the world, including South Africa and Brazil, where fast-developing Beta and Zeta strains were prevalent during the research period.

The study indicates that the Johnson & Johnson single-shot COVID-19 vaccination elicited humoral and cellular immune responses that persisted for at least eight months, the study’s most recent time point.

During the emergency pandemic phase, the vaccination is currently accessible for free in many areas and nations. On February 27, it obtained emergency use authorization (EUA) in the United States, and on March 11, it gained Conditional Marketing Authorization (CMA) from the European Commission.

How dangerous is Delta Variant?

The Delta version has mutations that let it reproduce more quickly and elude the body’s immune system. It is the ‘fastest and fittest’ type yet, according to WHO. The Delta variation is 50-60% more transmissible than the Alpha variant, which in turn is 50-60% more transmissible than COVID-19’s original strain. Not only is the Delta variety growing quickly, but it is also thought to be more hazardous. It’s producing more severe illnesses, and it’s especially affecting young people.